On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center of the U.S. Air Force Logistics Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense, signed a 13,081,102 USD contract with Sierra Nevada Corporation, based in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to support the operation of A-29C Super Tucano light attack aircraft, manufactured by the Brazilian company Embraer (Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica).
Photo: Lindsey Iniguez, USAF
The contractor was the sole bidder. The agreement provides for continuous readiness support for A-29C aircraft, including training devices, mission planning and debriefing systems, interchangeable equipment, alternative mission equipment, ground support equipment, testing equipment, commercial technical publications, and related spare parts. The work will be carried out at Edwards Air Force Base in California and is scheduled to be completed by February 28, 2026.
It is worth noting that the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (USAF TPS), located at Edwards Air Force Base, operates three A-29C Super Tucano aircraft, which were delivered on July 18, 2024.
These aircraft were originally part of an order placed with Sierra Nevada Corporation and Embraer Defense & Security for the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) at Hurlburt Field, Florida. They were intended for experiments, training allied and partner forces, enhancing their capabilities, and improving interoperability. However, they were withdrawn due to a shift in AFSOC’s operational concept.
The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) and the USAF Test Pilot School leadership saw these surplus aircraft as a unique opportunity to expand flight test and training capabilities at Edwards AFB.
While the A-29 is primarily a light attack aircraft, it also features modern avionics and the ability to carry external equipment on underwing pylons. This allows the school to conduct training and research on various sensors and weapon systems, reducing reliance on T-38C Talon and F-16C/D aircraft while simultaneously enhancing the ability to perform test missions assigned to the AFTC experimental center.
A-29 Super Tucano
In recent months, an undisclosed African customer decided to purchase four A-29 Super Tucano aircraft on December 31, 2024. Another undisclosed customer, without a specified region, placed an order for four aircraft on December 30, 2024. Additionally, Portugal ordered 12 Super Tucano aircraft in the A-29N variant, designed for NATO European member states, on December 16, 2024.
Orders for the base variant, the A-29 Super Tucano (also known as the EMB 314), have now exceeded 260 units, with a total of 570,000 flight hours, including 60,000 in combat operations. Besides the United States, the aircraft is currently in service with 20 countries, including Afghanistan, Angola, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Colombia, Lebanon, the Philippines, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, and Senegal, with Uruguay and Paraguay being the most recent operators. In the past, Ukraine had also expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft.
The A-29 Super Tucano is equipped with a precision target identification system, weapons systems, and a comprehensive communications suite. Its capabilities are further enhanced by advanced HMI avionics systems, integrated with a rugged airframe capable of operating from unpaved runways, in harsh environments, and without extensive infrastructure. Moreover, the aircraft features a simple maintenance concept, ensuring high reliability, availability, and structural integrity while keeping life-cycle costs low.